"Pardon, could you repeat what you just said?" Estelle shot a glance towards Danielle. If looks could kill, Danielle would have died ten times over.
"Noth-nothing..." Danielle shrivelled back in fear, her eyes opened wide and her entire body shivering. Her natural survival instincts kicked in immediately after Estelle focused on her. Danielle had not expected to be met with such a terrifying opposition like this. She had heard of the duke marrying again but she was not prepared to meet such a terrifying individual.
"Didn't I make myself clear? repeat what you said." Estelle had given up on being patient. Liandra's friends were too much of a bother for her. They showed little to know respect and were all cowards. Estelle wanted to crush them before they all leave. Leaving them without something to remember would be an insult to her.
"I-I..." Danielle backed away into her group, finding nowhere to support her back as the group had spaced out behind her. With nowhere to support her shaking legs, she fell to the ground, her legs not responding to her call. If she could run, she would have already left the estate and taken the first carriage heading back to her home.
"Cat got your tongue? Speak." Estelle walked up closer, raising her leg to place a heel on Danielle's weak shoulder. she rubbed it in, letting it settle like it was her house. Liandra's friends did not dare to utter a single word as this took place. All of them just wanted to leave.
"I- I said...you would regret... this- bitch..." Danielle turned her head away from Estelle, her chin pointedback into her neck.
"That wasn't so difficult, was it?" Estelle let out a ice cold grin, knocking Danielle's back onto the ground with her heel.
However, this was reserved as she would be with the group. In a split second, a shattering screeche could be heard as the ground directly beside Danielle's head cracked. The sharp heel had pierced the ground by at least 10 centimetres, leaving a smalled hole beside Danielle's terrified face.
Danielle's face loosened as she struggled to process what had just happen. She had come so close to death, all for something so petty. There were tears dripping from her eyes and she had already soiled the ground around her legs.
With a satisfying crunch, Estelle released her heel from the ground and brushed off the crushed flooring on Danielle's shoulder.
"Stay away from the both of us unless you have a thing for feet in that face of yours." Estelle calmly demanded, walking away back to Liandra.
"Awww... little sister, did these trashes scare you? Don't worry, elder sister is here." Estelle made an eye signal to Liandra, twitching her left eye at quick intervals. She moved in close and embraced Liandra with little warmth. Estelle patted her head softly and glanced back at the group that were still all frozen in fear.
Liandra herself was afraid to move. The person in front of her wasn't merely a wolf in sheep's clothing but devil instead. She could see the obvious killing intent Estelle had projected, this much was apparent. It was a wonder that Estelle stopped herself.
At the same time, Liandra had to be thankful for Estelle moving in to deal with her so called friends. If it weren't for Estelle, Liandra may have made a fool of herself and continued to associate herself with such people. However, she still believed Estelle went too far.
"Thank you, older sister..."
Estelle had established the closeness of the two sisters in front of the group. This was indeed favourable to her as she wanted to keep a public image of being a doting older sister. This would at least deter some fiends from trying to get closer to Liandra. The more people in Liandra's life, the more burn she will feel when the heroine takes everything away from her.
At the very least, Estelle wished for Liandra to make proper friends. That way there would be less risk of a falling out in the future. It was definitely not a case of doting, Estelle only wanted what was best for herself. If Liandra followed Estelle's every command, life will be fruitful for the both if them.
This was a selfish line of thought but Estelle did not feel any pity for using Liandra. Liandra would become pure evil if not for the Estelle's constant supervision. Estelle herself had no clear opinion on nature vs nurture, believing that nothing could be certain until she saw clear improvements in Liandra's behaviour.
"Are you fine? Good, let us go to the banquet hall. You have a birthday to celebrate." Estelle did not wait for Liandra to confirm if she was okay or not, walking off while holding one of Liandra's hands.
Despite practically being dragged away by Estelle, Liandra wasn't too dissatisfied by the overall rudeness displayed by her sister. It was a strange relationship between the two sisters. One moment Estelle treated Liandra like a scorned servant, the next, Estelle protected her from harm.
"Sister, can you please slow down a bit. you're walking too fast; I'm going to trip at this rate!" Liandra begged, stumbling as she spoke.
Estelle glanced at Liandra's delicate legs, frowning as she slowed her pace to a halt.
"Younger sister, you are so weak. Do you need me to carry you to the banquet hall?" Estelle's gazed burned with annoyance. Her villainess of a little sister was too high maintenance.
"Be a good girl and stop complaining so much." Estelle reprimanded, tired of Liandra's constant issues.
Liandra cast her gaze down to her feet in response. They were not even 6 months separated in age yet Estelle lorded over her as the elder sister.
As the pair drew closer to their intended destination, they could hear more and more of the laughter and celebration going about from inside the banquet hall. Neither were excited, not even Liandra. She could only wonder what her devil of a sister would restrict from doing this time.